blouin



A. BLOUIN.

FEELEH MOT ION FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION man on. 23. 1m.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

1,31 1,747. Patented July 29, 1919.

I n ventor:

' To all whom it ma UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

ALFRED BLOUIN, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB TO DRAPER CORPORATION, 01 EOPEDALE, MQSSACHUSETTS, A. CORPORATION OF KANE.

-. FEELER-MOTION FOB. LOOKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 29, 1919.

Application filed October as, 1918. Serial No. 259,312 3 concern: Be it known t at I, ALFRED Brown, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Holyoke, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler-Motions for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts. 1

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to feeler motions for looms whereby when the filling becomes substantiall exhausted in the shuttle a fresh supp y is furnished without stopping the loom.

The object of the present invention is to provide a feeler motion of the above generally stated character which shall be simple in construction, effective and reliable in operation, and wherein the parts may be readily assembled and repairs made when the parts of the feeler motion become worn. The'feeler motion of the present invention is preferably embodied in and designed as an improvement on that type of feeler shown and described in the patent to Roper No. 821,123 .and dated May 22, 1906, wherein the feeler comprises two feeler members, one a penetrating and the other an impingin member.

11 those feeler motions wherein a controller is employed for initiating filling replenishment when the filling in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted, it has heretofore been usual to provide the end of the controller with a dove-tailed notch or otherwise form the end of the controller to engage an arm when and during the frontward movement of the controller the filling has become substantially. exhausted. In these constructions when the end of the 'controller becomes worn under constant 'use, it

is diflicul-t to prolong the life of the feeler owing to the fact that the end engaging portion of the controller is seldom susceptible of repair. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a controller and cooperating parts which will permit such parts to be readily repaired and placed in good working condition even after they have become worn. Other features of the invention and novel characteristics thereof will be hereinafter pointed out in addition to the above and the novel constructions definitely set forth in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one end portion of a loom and associated arts with the present invention associated t erewith;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged central longitudinal section of the feeler showing the normal pos1t1on of parts when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle;

Fig; 3 is a similar view to that of Fig. 2 showlng the position the parts assume when, on a detecting beat, the feeler detects sub stantial e thaustion of filling; and

Fig. 4 1s a view similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the controller and the position it assumes under the frontward pressure of the filllng carrier in the shuttle when filling is substantially exhausted and the lay moves to front position.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the loom frame 1 has connected thereto the usual bracket 2 slotted at 3 for the movement of the shipper 4 and extended for the support of the feeler stand. It may be secured to the bracket 2 in any approved manner'as will more fully appear.

Secured to the loom frame 1 are the brack- I tes 5 provided with bearings 6 for the usual 'transverse or rock-shaft 7 which, as usual in feeler looms, is under the influence of a spring for holding the rock-shaft 7 in normal position and yet permitting it to be rocked upon call for filling replenishment, as will bit well understood by those skilled in the a Secured to and risin from the transverse or rock-shaft 7 is t e finger 8 having pivoted thereto at 9 the arm 10 which,-for purposes of identification, may hereinafter be termed the actuator. The arm 10 extends rearwardly as indicated in Fig. 1 and slide 15 the front portion 'of which extends into the feeler stand as indicated in Fig. 1

member of the feeler.

and is normally under the influence of a spring 16 tending to maintain the feeler slide 15 in its rearward position to permit such slide to be moved frontwardly.

The feeler slide 15 carries an impinging and a penetrating feelermember and in the present instance of the invention the impinging member consists of the rear end portion 17 pro ectlng rearwardly from the feeler slide and provided with a passageway through which extends the penetrating In the resent instance the penetrating member 0 the feeler consists of a finger 18, the rear end portion 19 of which is preferably sharpened or made wedge-shape in order that it may sink into the filling when, on a detecting beat, a working supply is present in the shuttle. Front-' wardly of the impingmg'portion 17 of the feeler slide the )enetrating feeler member has an upward y extending portion 20 adapted to engage an adjusting device 21 carried by the controller 22. In the present instance the controller 22 is pivotally mounted at 23 on the feeler slide 15 and has tion 27 is preferably supported by a yieldingij' device to normally maintain the end portion 27 in osition asindicated in Fig. 2.

In eeler motions as heretofore constructed, it has been the usual practice to finish such end portion and provide it with a recess or fan tail which was designed to engage a similarly formed portion of a leveror similar part and move it toward the front of the loom when, on a detecting beat, the filling was substantially exhausted. In such forms of controllers where the end portions have been especially prepared and formed, it was practically impossible to draw the metal and provide the necessary dove-tail construction after such part had become worn and thereby rendered the feeler action unreliable. In the present invention, however, the end portion of the controller 22, as will be obvious from the illustrations. of Figs. 2, 3 and l, is not of special dove-tail formation but is formed plain or blunt so that when the end of the controller becomes worn and no longer acts with certainty by reason thereof, it is only necessary to draw the metal slightly to thereby return the controller to its full operative condition. The life of the feeler is thereby prolonged and the feeler susceptible of ready repair.

A rock-shaft 28 extends between the feeler and actuator and has a lug or projection 29 extendlng therefrom and adapted at times, as will more fully appear, to be engaged by the blunt ended controller to cause rocking movement of the rock-shaft and thereby place the actuator in operative position with its operating member. In the present instance of the invention the feeler stand is provided with a bearing portion 30 above the feeler slide in which the rock shaft 28 is mounted for rocking movement and an opening 31' is formed in the feeler.

stand through which extends the projection or lug 29' formed on or secured to the rockshaft 28.

The rock-shaft 28 is preferably" also susi tained by bearings32 rising from a bracket 33 secured to the loom frame in proximity to the actuator 10. The end of the rockshaft adjacent the actuator 10 is provided beat, the feeler stand is provided with a stop shoulder 36 against which the lug or projection 29 normally rests, as indicated in Figs.

1, 2, under the weight of the actuator 10. Endwise movement of the shaft28 in its bearings is prevented by means of collars 37 secured thereto at opposite sides of the bearings 32.

As indicated in Fig. 1 the front wall of the shuttle box 38, as well as the front wall of-the shuttle 39, are provided with suitable openings as usual feeler loom constructions, through which the feeler members may pass as the lay beats u in order to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle.

When the parts are in normal operating position and the loom is running with a working supply of filling, the controller 22 is supported by the yielding post 40 about the lower end of which is placed a spring sition indicated in Fig. 2 but yieldable to permit the controller 22 to be turned about 41 tending to'raise the post 40 into the poits pivotal mount 23on' the feeler slide into the position indicated in' Figs. 3 and 4.

From the construction described it will be apparent that when the loom is running and a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, as indicated in FigsJl and 2, the penetrating member 18 will sink into the filling 42 on the filling carrier 43 as the lay moves to its front position and the feeler slide will be moved frontwardly. Under such conditionsthe blunt end portion 27 of the controller 22 will move frontwardly in a path of non-intersection with the lug or projection 29 of the rock-shaft 18 and the loom will continue in operation without change of filling. When, however, the filling becomes substantially exhausted as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, the penetrating feeler member 18 will first contact with the more dense surface of the bobbin and be moved frontwardly as indicated in Fig. 3, relative to the impinging feeler 17 thereby turning the controller 22 with its end in position to intersect the projection 29 of the shaft 28, and upon further frontward movement of the lay the feeler slide and, perforce, the controller will be moved frontwardly, thereby causing the blunt end portion 27 of the controller to impinge upon the lug or projection 29 and turn it from the position indicated in Fig. 3 to that indicated in Fig. 4, thereby rocking the shaft 28 and lifting the actuator'to place its end in operative position to its operating member 11. As the feeler slide 15 continues its frontward movement, its end portion will ride over the lug or projection 29 after the latter has been turned downward into the position indicated in Fig. 4 and the frontward pressure of the filling carrier or bobbin upon the penetrating member will maintain the controller in the position indicated in Fig. 4 and thereby hold the lug or projection 29 in its downturned position and the actuator in its raised position for engagement by its operating member.

Should the end portion 27 of the controller become worn under the constant use to which it is subjected, or should the lug 29 projecting from the rock-shaft 28 become unduly worn, the metal of such parts or either of them may be drawn or readily reformed.

It may sometimes be desirable to adjust the length of the shaft 28 or the relative angular position of the cam 34 and the lug 29 and in the present instance of the invention this is accomplished by means of aturnbuckle 44 and when the parts have been suitably adjusted they may be locked in such position by means of screws or other fastenings 45.

Claims:

1. In a feeler motion for looms, the com- I bination of a feeler member, an actuator and operating member, a rock shaft extending between the actuator and feeler members and having a pro ection, a controller having an end portion normally maintained for movement 1n a path above the projection from the rock shaft when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle and movable into position to intercept the projection and turn the rock shaft and then ride over and bear upon the depressed projection when the filling is substantially exhaustedon a detecting beat, and connections between the rock shaft and actuator.

2. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of an actuator and operating memher, a feeler slide and feeler, a rock shaft extending between the feeler slideancl actuator and having a lug or projection, a controller mounted to move with the slide and having an end portion maintained for movement in a path of non-intersection with said projection when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat and movable into position to intercept said projection and turn the rock shaft and then ride over and hold the projection depressed when the filling in the shuttle is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, and a cam connection between the rock shaft and actuator.

3. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a feeler slide, a penetrating and an impinging feeler member carried b the slide, an actuator and operating mem er, a rock shaft supported for rocking movement in the feeler stand and extending between the feeler stand and actuator, a lug or projection extended from the rock shaft adjacent the feeler stand, a controller mounted to move with the feeler slide and having an end portion normally maintained for movement above the lug or projection on the rock shaft when a working supply of filling is resent in the shuttle on a detecting beat an movable into a position to engage and turn the lug or projection when the penetrating feeler member indicates substantial exhaustion of filling and then ride over and hold the lug or projec-.

tion depressed and the shaft turned asthe lay moves to its front position, and connections between the rock shaft and actuator.

4. A feeler motion for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler stand, an actuator, a rock shaft extending directly between the feeler stand and actuator, a lug projectin from the rock shaft through the feeler stan a stop against which the lu normally bears, a feeler slide mounted or reciprocating movement in the-feeler stand, a controller movable with the feeler slide and having an end normally maintained for movement 1n a path of non-intersection with said lug as the slide moves frontwardly when a worki supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a etectin beat, a feeler member mounted on the sli e and acting to move the end of the controller into position to intercept the lu on the rock shaft when the fillin is substantially exhausted on a detecting %eat and then ride over and bear upon the lug in turned position by the pressure of the filling carrier upon the feeler member.

5. A feeler motion for looms comprising, in combination, a feeler stand, a feeler slide mounted for reciprocating movement in the feeler stand, an actuator, a rock shaft sup- .ported for rocking movement in the feeler stand above the feeler slide and having a lug or projection projecting through the feeler stand, a controller mounted on the feeler slide and having an end portion normally maintained for movement in a path above the top of said lug or projection when a working supply of fillin is present in the shuttle on a detecting at, and a feeler member acting under the frontward pres sure of the filling carrier to move the end of the controller into position to intercept said lug or projection and turn the rock shaft when the filling is substantially exhausted on a'detectin beat and then ride over and bear upon the ug or projection.

' 6. In a feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler slide, a fe'eler stand having an opening and a stop. shoulder, a rock shaft mounted for rocking movement in the feeler stand above the feeler slide and having a lug projecting through the opening in the feeler stand, an actuator connected to the rock shaft and acting to normally maintain the lug against the stop shoulder, a controller movable with the feelenslide and having a blunt end maintained for movement in a path above the said lug when a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle on a detecting beat, and a feeler member acting under the frontward pressure of the filling carrier to depress the blunt end of the controller and cause it to turn and then ride over \the depressed lug when the fillin is substantially exhausted on a detectin at.

.7. In a fee er motion for looms, the combination of a feeler member to feel for the filling in the shuttle, an actuator and an operating member, a transmitter between the feeler member and actuator having an extended portion, a controller movable by the feeler member and having a blunt actuating end which is normally maintained for movement in a path of non-intersection with the extended portion vof thetransmitter when a workingsupply of filling is present in the shuttle, and movable into position tointercept and strike the said extended portion and turn it when the filling is substantially I exhausted on a detecting beat and the controller is moved frontwardly and then to ride over and bear upon the extended portion as the controller moves frontwardly, the blunt striking unsocketed end of the con troller adapted to be extended or drawn lengthwise of the controller to compensate for wear, and connections between the transmitter and actuator to position the actuator operatively relative to the operating memher when the blunt end of the controller strikes and moves the extension of the transmitter.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification.

ALFRED BLOUIN. 

